Mr Le Brun said the financial results of diversified conglomerate Wesfarmers was the latest of several company reports to encourage investors.

The financial results from engineering firm Downer EDI, and a Chinese investor taking a stake in aluminum producer Alumina also reverberated well among investors.

‘‘After we got that Wesfarmers’ number, that’s when the ASX200 really started to make some inroads. So it’s all looking pretty positive at this stage,’’ Mr Le Brun said.

Aluminum producer Alumina was nine cents, or 7.5 per cent, stronger at $1.29, after a large Chinese investor took a $452 million stake in the company.

Diversified conglomerate Wesfarmers improved 46 cents to $38.88, after it reported a nine per cent growth in first half profit, boosted by better earnings from supermarket operator Coles and home hardware supplier Bunnings.

Downer EDI surged 38 cents, or 7.82 per cent, to $5.24, after the engineering firm lifted its profit, resumed paying dividends, and said the $3.6 billion Waratah train project in NSW was now in very good shape.

Among other stocks, retailer David Jones lost one cent to $2.67 as its second quarter sales, which includes the vital Christmas period, fell 1.4 per cent.

Among the major banks, Commonwealth Bank shed 21 cents to $66.90, Westpac added 43 cents at $28.76, ANZ was 25 cents richer at $28.06, and National Australia Bank firmed six cents to $29.35.